VICTOR WANYAMA grew up in Nairobi playing on worse pitches than Rochdale's Spotland surface that was recently dug-up and replaced for Sunday's FA Cup tie.

Mud, stones, rocks and ripped into his bare feet, but never the dream of lifting football's famous trophy.

Games against Real Madrid and Juventus figure high in his memory bank but not lofty as winning the FA Cup. Tottenham have never lifted a trophy under manager Mauricio Pochettino and Wanyama is desperate to put that right.

The 26-year-old Kenyan international, the first player from his country to score in the Champions League when at Celtic, vividly remembers crowding around a TV to watch the competition where only the semi final and final were televised in his homeland.

He says: "It was the only big thing. It was my dream to play in it and also in England. The first one I saw was Manchester United against Chelsea. It's a big deal to me, a big trophy to win.

"It does not matter on which type of pitch we play. It will be the same for them."

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He added: "I've played on worse in bare feet, but that was then, now I’ve played and I’ve got used to the pitches here now. If it is tough it will be tough for both teams. Hopefully we will be ready for it and do well.

"We played at Newport and got a result. These games seem to level-up teams. It's tough, because the other teams they are physically a good side and they want to give everything, so we have to be fully focused to pass through the test.

"We will have to show the same attitude like we did against Real Madrid and Juventus. All the small games are always tough. The teams want to prove they can be on the same level as you and they fight so it can be tough. So we need to be at our best to deliver.

"We have a group where the mentality of everyone at the club is to go and do well, so everyone wants to go on Sunday and do well for the club and fight for each other and get some good results."

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Tottenham were critical of Rochdale's playing surface

Wanyama, already a football icon at home, elevated his status even more with his 80th minute, 25-yard, 64mph belter against Liverpool a fortnight ago.

He went on: "It's been shown a lot. I got a lot of texts from back home and people telling me how good a goal it was. I can only appreciate that because the support I have back home also is huge.

"After the game I watched it a few times and after that I didn’t want to watch it too many more times because I don’t like to be carried away and I don’t like to only live for that moment. I need to keep going and hopefully I can get another one."

Injury previously kept him out of the side and he added: "I’m almost getting back to full fitness. It’s not easy to get back, the team is doing well and match fitness is not easy to get now, but, hopefully, it will come soon and I can keep going.”

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Mauricio Pochettino's side reached the FA Cup semi-finals last season

Pochettino witnessed Wanyama's talents when both were at Southampton and made him an instant target when joining Spurs. He is well aware Spurs and Poch need to win trophies to make the leap to a higher level.

Wanyama said: "I’m a winner, I have a strong character. I don’t like to talk too much but when I’m on the pitch you can see maybe my passion and also the drive. I always want to win everything.

"We won’t let people put pressure on the team because we know what we want and deserves and what we are chasing. Every player’s dream is to win trophies and that’s what we want and hopefully we can work hard and get something soon.

"The FA Cup is still a big trophy to win. It is important, it’s a big Cup. We have a very good group of players and we always want to win everything. We believe we can compete with anyone and win.

"We've had a tough run, but we have done well. We’ve managed to pick up some points and it’s good for us. It gives us confidence to keep going.

”Rochdale will raise their game, but every game, is tough – even against the smaller teams, it’s not an easy game. I said before, they want to fight for everything and show they can compete at the top level. We are aware of that and, hopefully, we can escape.

"We play at Wembley and could play the semi final there, but for me there is no advantage. It’s a neutral ground and it will be good for both teams who meet there. For a lot of teams who come to Wembley, it’s another motivation.

"We are doing well at Wembley. Now it has a good feeling for us and everything is going well, hopefully we can keep it that way.”